Growth capital investment group BGF has named its head of portfolio Ben Barker (pictured) as its new chief investment officer.
Barker has spent a decade at the investment group, which has backed firms including Oxa, Paddle and Dice.
He joined the firm as an investor in 2016 based out of Manchester. Barker was named head of the investor’s northern portfolio in 2020, before being promoted to head of portfolio in 2023.
Barker will assume the role of chief investment officer effective immediately, a role in which he will be responsible for overseeing investment activity and portfolio management across the business.
“I’m delighted to be stepping into the role of CIO and to be joining the Board. BGF has a distinctive, patient approach to investing, and I look forward to working closely with our teams to continue supporting entrepreneurs and building value across our portfolio,” Barker said.
“As CIO, my focus will be on ensuring we continue to invest in the UK’s most ambitious growth companies while strengthening the support we provide to management teams at every stage of their growth journey.”
Commenting on the appointment, BGF chief executive Andy Gregory said: “Ben’s appointment as Chief Investment Officer is a reflection of the leadership role he has played in building and strengthening our portfolio approach.
“He brings deep investment experience, strong strategic judgement and a clear focus on value creation. Alongside this, the promotions announced today demonstrate the strength and depth of talent across our teams.”
BGF was launched in 2011 and has since invested over £4.7bn in more than 650 companies.
